The film was equal with Two Little Boys in the number of categories it was a finalist in.

But The Orator held its Duncan Sarkies-directed rival to two awards at the ceremony held in Auckland tonight.

As well as best film, The Orator won its writer-director Tusi Tamasese the screenplay and directing prizes.

Its cast also took away best actor, actress, and supporting actress Moas, along with awards for sound and costume design.

Most of the actors on the film - about a bullied dwarf in an isolated Samoan village standing up for himself and family - were non-professionals.

It was Tamasese's debut feature.

Other winners included rock documentary Shihad: Beautiful Machine (best doco director and editing), and drama The Most Fun You Can Dying (soundtrack, cinematography and production design).

The awards, organised by Hugh Sundae of nzherald.co.nz and Ant Timpson and presented by The New Zealand Herald and Rialto Channel, were put in place after the national television awards dropped film categories from its annual prize-giving.

The awards were judged by a panel of more than overseas film-makers, festival programmers and journalists.